AP Biology

Biochemistry Revision
 Identify the letter of the choice that
best completes the statement or
answers the question.
____ 1. About 25 of the 92 natural elements are known
to be essential to life. Which four of these 25 elements
make up approximately 96% of living matter?
a.
carbon, sodium, chlorine, nitrogen
b.
carbon, sulfur, phosphorus, hydrogen
c.
oxygen, hydrogen, calcium, sodium
d.
carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen
____ 2. Calcium has an atomic number of 20 and an
atomic mass of 40. Therefore, a calcium atom must have
a.
20 protons.
b.
40 electrons.
c.
40 neutrons.
d.
A and B only
3. Which of the following best describes the relationship between the atoms
described below?
Atom 1 Atom 2

1 3
H H
1 1
a.
They are isomers.
b.
They are polymers.
c.
They are isotopes.
d.
They contain 1 and 3 protons, respectively.
4. A polar covalent bond can form when
a.
there is the loss of one or more electrons from one atom to another
atom of the same molecule.
b.
there is the gain of one or more electrons from one atom to another
atom of the same molecule.
c.
one of the atoms has a greater affinity for electrons than the other
atom of the same molecule.
d.
one of the atoms has a greater affinity for neutrons than the other
atom of the same molecule.
 5. Van der Waals interactions result when
a.
hybrid orbitals overlap.
b.
electrons are not symmetrically distributed in a molecule.
c.
molecules held by ionic bonds react with water.
d.
two polar covalent bonds react.
 6. The slight negative charge at one end of one water
molecule is attracted to the slight positive charge of
another water molecule. What is this attraction called?
a.
a covalent bond
b.
a hydrogen bond
c.
an ionic bond
d.
a hydrophilic bond
7. An example of a hydrogen bond is the bond between
a.
C and H in methane (CH4).
b.
the H of one water molecule and the O of another water
molecule.
c.
Na+and Cl- in salt.
d.
the two hydrogen atoms in a molecule of hydrogen gas (H2).
 8. Water is able to form hydrogen bonds because
a.
oxygen has a valence of 2.
b.
the water molecule is shaped like a tetrahedron.
c.
the bonds that hold together the atoms in a water
molecule are polar covalent bonds.
d.
the oxygen atom in a water molecule has a weak positive
charge.
 9. Which of the following is possible due to the high
surface tension of water?
a.
Lakes don't freeze solid in winter, despite low temperatures.
b.
A water strider can walk across the surface of a small pond.
c.
Organisms resist temperature changes, although they give off
heat due to chemical reactions.
d.
Water can act as a solvent.
 10. Temperature usually increases when water condenses. Which
behavior of water is most directly responsible for this phenomenon?
a.
the change in density when it condenses to form a liquid or solid
b.
reactions with other atmospheric compounds
c.
the release of heat by the formation of hydrogen bonds
d.
the release of heat by the breaking of hydrogen bonds
e.
the high surface tension of water
 11. Hydrophobic substances such as vegetable oil are
a.
nonpolar substances that repel water molecules.
b.
nonpolar substances that have an attraction for water
molecules.
c.
polar substances that repel water molecules.
d.
polar substances that have an affinity for water.
12. Which of the following statements is NOT true
a.When sodium chloride (NaCl) is placed in water the
component atoms of the NaCl crystal dissociate into
individual sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-).
b.The atoms of covalently bonded non-polar molecules
do not generally dissociate when placed in aqueous
solution.
c. The atoms of covalently bonded polar molecules do
not generally dissociate when placed in aqueous solution.
d. Hydrophobic molecules do not generally dissociate
when placed in aqueous solution.
13. What would be the pH of a solution with a hydrogen ion [H+]
concentration of 10-8 M?
a.
pH 2
b.
pH 4
c.
pH 6
d.
pH 8
e.
pH 10
14. If the pH of a solution is increased from pH 5 to pH 7, it means
that the
a.
concentration of H+ is 2 times greater than what it was at pH 5.
b.
concentration of H+ is 2 times less than what it was at pH 5.
c.
concentration of OH- is 100 times greater than what it was at pH 5.
d.
concentration of OH- is 100 times less than what it was at pH 5.
e.
concentration of H+ is 100 times greater and the concentration of OH-
is 100 times less than what they were at pH 5.
15. One of the buffers that contribute to pH stability in human blood is carbonic acid H2CO3. Carbonic
acid is a weak acid that when placed in an aqueous solution dissociates into a bicarbonate ion
(HCO3-) and a hydrogen ion (H+) Thus,
H2CO3 HCO3- + H+

If the pH of the blood increases, one would expect

a.
a decrease in the concentration of H2CO3 and an increase in the concentration of H2O.
b.
an increase in the concentration of H2CO3 and a decrease in the concentration of H2O.
c.
a decrease in the concentration of HCO3- and an increase in the concentration of H2O.
d.
an increase in the concentration of HCO3- and a decrease in the concentration of H2O.
e.
a decrease in the concentration of HCO3- and an increase in the concentration of both H2CO3and H2O.
16. Observe the structures of glucose and
fructose. These two molecules are
a.geometric isotopes.
b.enantiomers.
c.geometric isomers.
d.structural isomers.
e.nonisotopic isomers.
• 17. Which of the structures is an impossible
covalently bonded molecule?
18. Which is a hydroxyl functional group?
a.Group A
b.Group B
c.Group C
d.Group D
e.Group E

____
19. Which is a carbonyl functional group?
a.Group A
b.Group B
c.Group C
d.Group D
e.Group E

____
20. Which is a functional group that helps stabilize
proteins by forming covalent cross-links within or
between protein molecules?
a.Group A
b.Group B
c.Group C
d.Group D
e.Group E

____
21. Which is an acidic functional group that
can dissociate and release H+ into a solution?
a.Group A
b.Group B
c.Group C
d.Group D
e.Group E
 22. Which molecule is water-soluble because
it has a hydroxyl functional group?
a.Molecule A
b.Molecule B
c.Molecule C
d.Molecule D
e.Molecule E
23. Which molecules contain a carbonyl
group?
a.A and B
b.B and C
c.C and D
d.D and E
e.E and A
 24. Which molecule can increase the
concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution and
is therefore an organic acid?
a.Molecule A
b.Molecule B
c.Molecule C
d.Molecule D
e.Molecule E
 25. Which of the following is not one of the four major
groups of macromolecules found in living organisms?
a.Glucose
b.Carbohydrates
c.Lipids
d.Proteins
e.nucleic acids
26. A molecule with the chemical formula
C16H32O16 is probably a
a.carbohydrate.
b.lipid.
c.protein.
d.nucleic acid.
e.hydrocarbon.

____
27. Which of the following are
polysaccharides?
A.Glycogen
B.Starch
C.Chitin
D.A and B only
E.A, B, and C
What is the molecule illustrated in the figure
below?
28. a.
a saturated fatty acid
b.
an unsaturated fatty acid
c.
a polyunsaturated triacylglyceride
d.
a trans polyunsaturated triacylglyceride
e.
a steroid similar to cholesterol
 29. The molecule shown in the figure is a

a. polysaccharide.
b. polypeptide.
c. saturated fatty acid.
d. triacylglycerol.
e. unsaturated fatty acid.
30. The hydrogenation of vegetable oil would
result in which of the following?
a.a decrease in the number of carbon-carbon
double bonds in the oil (fat. Molecules
b.an increase in the number of hydrogen atoms in
the oil (fat. Molecule
c.the oil (fat. being a solid at room temperature
d.A and C only
e.A, B, and C
 31. The chemical reaction illustrated in the figure
below results in the formation of a (an)

a.ionic bond.
b.peptide bond.
c.glycosidic linkage.
d.ester linkage.
e.phosphodiester linkage.
 32. The bonding of two amino acid molecules to
form a larger molecule requires which of the
following?
a.removal of a water molecule
b.addition of a water molecule
c.formation of an ionic bond
d.formation of a hydrogen bond
e.both A and C
Use the figure below to answer the
following questions.
 34. Which bonds are created during the
formation of the primary structure of a protein?
a.peptide bonds
b.hydrogen bonds
c.disulfide bonds
d.phosphodiester bonds
e.A, B, and C
____ 35. What maintains the secondary structure
of a protein?
a.peptide bonds
b.hydrogen bonds
c.disulfide bonds
d.ionic bonds
e.phosphodiester bonds
36. The helix and the pleated sheet are both
common polypeptide forms found in which level
of protein structure?
a.Primary
b.Secondary
c.Tertiary
d.Quaternary
e.all of the above
____ 37. The tertiary structure of a protein is the
a.bonding together of several polypeptide chains by weak
bonds.
b.order in which amino acids are joined in a polypeptide
chain.
c.unique three-dimensional shape of the fully folded
polypeptide.
d.organization of a polypeptide chain into an alpha helix or a
beta-pleated sheet.
e.overall protein structure resulting from the aggregation of
two or more polypeptide subunits.
38. A strong covalent bond between amino acids that
functions in maintaining a polypeptide's specific three-
dimensional shape is a (an)
a.ionic bond.
b.hydrophobic interaction.
c.van der Waals interaction.
d.disulfide bond.
e.hydrogen bond.

____
39. At which level of protein structure are interactions
between the side chains (R groups. most important?
a.Primary
b.Secondary
c.Tertiary
d.quaternary
e.all of the above
____ 40. The R group or side chain of the amino acid serine is –
CH2-OH. The R group or side chain of the amino acid alanine is –
CH3. Where would you expect to find these amino acids in a
globular protein in aqueous solution?
a.Serine would be in the interior, and alanine would be on the exterior
of the globular protein.
b.Alanine would be in the interior, and serine would be on the exterior
of the globular protein.
c.Both serine and alanine would be in the interior of the globular
protein.
D.B oth serine and alanine would be on the exterior of the globular
protein.
e.Both serine and alanine would be in the interior and on the exterior
of the globular protein.
 41. The globular protein transthyretin results from the
aggregation of four polypeptide subunits. Each of the
subunits is a polypeptide chain with an helix region. Which
structure(s) must the transthyretin protein have?
a.primary structure
b.primary and secondary structure
c.primary, secondary, and tertiary structure
d.primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure
e.primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary, and alpha structure
____42. All of the following molecules are proteins
except
a.hemoglobin.
b.transthyretin.
c.collagen.
d.lysozyme.
e.glycogen.

____
 43. What is the term used for a change in a protein's
three-dimensional shape or conformation due to
disruption of hydrogen bonds, disulfide bridges, or
ionic bonds?
a.Hydrolysis
b.Stabilization
c.Destabilization
d.Renaturation
e.Denaturation
Second – Free Response Questions

1. Proteins – large complex molecules – are major

building blocks of all living organisms . Discuss
the following in relation to proteins.
a. the chemical composition and levels of
structure of proteins. 8M
b. the role of proteins in transport of ions and
molecules across the plasma membrane. 3M
 2. Water is important for all living organisms.
a.Use the following diagram to explain the solvent property of water 4M

b. Explain how the properties of water help moderation of temperature on earth . 3M

3. Explain how the structural formula of the following groups of lipids determines their physical and chemical propert
Molecule A 4M
Molecule B 4M

Molecule C 3M